Lobbies have long been the heart and soul of a hotel. It is where a guest’s first entry is made and ultimately sets the tone for the entire hotel experience. Let’s face it, when it comes to lobby design, luxury hotels spare nothing.
From business guests who require an efficient check in procedure, co-working area, and a room with ample desk space, to luxury travellers for whom detail is everything – stepping into a perfectly designed space filled with artwork, greenery or dramatic views is a great sign that you are about to have an amazing stay. Thus, the first impression made by a hotel is key. Not only will a guest’s first thought about a hotel have a significant impact on their lasting opinion of the venue, but it will also affect important aspects such as their likelihood of recommending it to another or making a return visit.
From hi-tech integrations to dual-purpose luxury spaces, here, eight hotel lobbies that nail the art of the first impression.
1. The Garden Lobby: Hotel ICON, Hong Kong
The Garden Lobby. Photo courtesy of Hotel Icon.
At this super stylish hotel, greenery meets a great view with Asia’s largest indoor vertical garden. Designed by world-famous botanist, Patrick Blanc it features over 8,000 plants and acts as the entrance to the lobby café Green, a sleek place to grab a bite amidst the bustling city. hotel-icon.com.
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2. The Social Butterfly Lobby: Star Ovolo 1888 Sydney Australia
The 1888 Darling Harbour is a boutique hotel combining Sydney’s Old-World charm with contemporary and vibrant design. An Instagram theme runs throughout the hotel where guests can check-in through the social media app, and take pictures at the selfie stand next to the lobby bar where a giant picture frame has been installed for guests to take snaps and tag #1888Hotel. Attention all social butterflies – those with more than 10K Instagram followers get to stay for free! ovolohotels.com
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3. The Ice Lobby: Hôtel de Glace, Quebec City
Inside of Hotel de Glace @naomii_cc via Instagram
From January to March, the ephemeral Hôtel de Glace welcomes guests to stay in a building made entirely from ice and snow and that includes the stunning lobby that shimmers like blue crystal. Wander over to the Ice Bar and its cozy fireplace to socialize with other guests who have come for this one-of-a-kind experience. Adding ice to your drinks is optional. hoteldeglace-canada.com
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4. The Modern Living Room Lobby: citizenM, New York USA
A combination of toy store, cocktail bar, library, back porch and hotel.
At citizenM, high design is stylishly fused with cutting-edge technology and unequalled comfort. The hotel lobby is like an oversized living room, with soaring 26-foot ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves showcasing an eclectic mix of art from the likes of Andy Warhol and David LaChapelle. Guests can check-in via self-service tablets and can then relax in this stunning social space. Relax in front of the fire playing chess, grab a bite from the 24-hour canteen or pull up a pew in the designated working areas. citizenm.com
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5. The Self-Check-in Hotel Lobby: U&Me Hotel, Umeå Sweden
Check-in (and out) is a hi-tech affair at the U&Me Hotel! The hotel doesn’t have a traditional lobby space (because everything here is done online, even ordering hotel services), but the check-in pod sits at the heart of Umeå’s cultural arena Väven. You could therefore argue that the hotel has the world’s largest hotel library (Umeå City Library), a theatre, an art-house cinema, a museum, a conference centre and a deli – all accessible from the ‘lobby’ zone. umehotel.se/en/hotel/
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6. The Art Gallery Lobby: Listel Hotel, Vancouver Canada
Photo courtesy of the Listel Hotel, Vancouver.
With an unwavering commitment to art and luxury, the Listel Hotel offers guests so much more than a place to stay. It is a place of culture and beauty that starts when you first walk through the doors. In its lobby you will find paintings, prints and sculptures from all over the world courtesy of the Buschlen Mowatt Fine Art Gallery. The hotel also boasts stunning First Nations art sourced from the University of British Columbia’s prestigious Museum of Anthropology. If that isn’t enough there is also a selection of original pieces by local artist Stewart Stephenson. thelistelhotel.com
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7. The Instagram Lobby: nhow Amsterdam RAI
Courtesy of nhow Amsterdam RAI
Designed by leading architect Reinier de Graaf, the nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel is a new social and multicultural hub for globetrotters, business travellers and Amsterdam locals. The iconic building, facing various wind directions, symbolises the melting-pot the city of Amsterdam has always been and continues to be. The impressive tall building located in the Zuidas district, right next to the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre – with 24 floors and 650 rooms, all with floor-to-ceiling windows offers stunning views of Amsterdam. nhow-hotels.com
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8. Back to the Future Lobby:The Poli House Hotel, Tel Aviv
Housed in a meticulously restored Bauhaus architecture-style building right at the center of Tel Aviv, The Poli House features warm and clean interiors created exclusively by world-renowned designer /architect Karim Rashid, as well as a panoramic rooftop pool, sunbathing lounge, cocktail bar and serene treatment rooms for spa treatments. The Poli House’s homage to 1930’s Tel Aviv, tech-savvy design elements, health and style-conscious amenities and the perfect location at the very heart of Tel Aviv, steps from the Carmel Market and a short walk from the beach combine for an unwavering leisure-soaked property unlike any other in the White City. brownhotels.com/poli
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